Luggage compartment cover



0 N N ws e h S 2 Aug. 25, 1953 J DONALD ET AL LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT COVERFlled Jan '7, 1949 mw m N R m m OS 0W 3 N E O m m Jm D" 0 m a 9 e 4 a.w. 2 a

2 R E W MC T T Em w NW 0c G U L m l 1 7 r3 n 2 h m. w M n .F

2 a? 3 1m. 1 i J; 8' 2 M x INVENTORS JAMES DONALD MARVIN W. STIMSONRAYMOND BIRZA ATTORNEYS of BY Paten ted Aug. 25 1953 LUGGAGE COMPARTMENTCOVER James Donald, Marvin W. Stimson, and Raymond Birza, Denver, 0010.,assignors to Shwayder Bros., Inc., Denver, 0010., a corporation ofColorado Application January 7, 1949, Serial No. 69,684

8 Claims.

This invention relates to luggage compartment covers, and moreparticularly to covers for compartments of luggage such as travelingcases, wardrobe cases, suit cases, trunks and the like, being especiallyuseful for wardrobe compartments which are adapted to contain suits,dresses and similar articles.

Prior covers for wardrobe compartments of luggage have been glued,tacked, stapled or similarly fastened to one edge of the compartment,and releasably attached to the opposite edge. Such covers areconventionally provided with one or more strips of elastic, sewedthereinto, so that the cover can be stretched over the clothing or likearticles packed in the compartment, to assist in retaining the same inthe compartment, and also to protect the same against soiling or contactwith other articles, as during packing and unpacking. A popular type ofluggage case is divided into two compartments, one of which is fitted asa wardrobe compartment. Such a case may be constructed so as to rest ona support such as a stand or table, with the wardrobe compartmentextending upwardly, when the case is in open position. Access to thewardrobe compartment is obtained by unfastening the cover at the lowerend, and the cover may then be placed rearwardly over the top of thecase, with the free end of the cover falling down behind the upper orWardrobe compartment. Ihe manner in which the edge of the cover isattached to one compartment wall, and the manner in which the oppositeedge of the cover is removably attached to the opposite wall of thecompartment, is of considerable importance. Due to its being fastenedand unfastened many times, the cover is subject to the possibility ofbecoming worn, stretched out of shape, or an edge or portion thereoftorn away from or dislodged from the compartment wall to which it isattached.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a novelcompartment cover for luggage and the like; to provide such a coverwhich is particularly adapted to be utilized in connection with awardrobe compartment; to provide such a cover, one edge of which isreadily and simply attached to a wall of the compartment; to providesuch a cover, the opposite edge of which is releasably attached to theopposite wall of the compartment; to provide such a cover which willwithstand much wear and abuse, and which may be stretched andrestretched laterally or longitudinally but does not tend to wrinkleunduly or to get out of shape; to provide such a cover which is notreadily dislodged or torn 2 away from the luggage case; to provide sucha cover which, after installation, is neat and attractive in appearance;to provide such a cover which is relatively economically manufactured;and to provide such a cover which may be made in a variety of differentsizes and shapes.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will becomeapparent from the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a ladies wardrobe case, shown in openposition, the Wardrobe compartment of the case being provided with acover constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a condensed vertical section taken along line 22 of Fig. 1,showing the cover in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the wardrobecompartment, showing the cover thrown back over the top thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section, taken along line ce of Fig. 1, 'at one edge of the cover;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section in horizontal instead ofvertical position, taken along line 5-5 of Fig. l, at the releasablyattached edge of the cover;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a step inthe manufacture of the cover;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective end section, showing particularly themeans for releasable attachment of the cover; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section in horizontal instead of verticalposition, taken along line 88 of Fig. 1, at the attached edge of thecover.

As illustrated in Fig. l, a cover C, constructed in accordance with thisinvention, may be provided for the wardrobe compartment W of a luggagecase, having also a compartment L, which may be the lower compartmentwhen the luggage case is in open position, as shown. For greaterconvenience in use, the case i preferably opened with the wardrobecompartment W uppermost, and the case may be provided with conventionalstop levers or the like, to hold the wardrobe compartment W in agenerally vertical position, while the compartments may beconventionally hinged together, and the crack therebetween which wouldordinarily be exposed when the case is in open position, covered by astripit, normally made of the same material as the lining or liner H.The liner H may be constructed in the manner disclosed and claimed inour 00-- vas shown generally in Fig. l. The center elastic strip 2! maybe stitched directlyto the. underside of fabric 2e,- while each-sideelastic strip 2|,

3 pendin application Serial No. 68,948, filed J anuary 3, 1949, andentitled Luggage Compartment Liners, although a lining constructed inany other suitable manner may be utilized. The wardrobe compartment W,as in Figs. 1 and 2, may be provided with several hangers 2, a cord l3and a frame 14 having a top-bar- !5, frame l4 being pivotallyrmountedonbrackets It, for more conveniently packing suits, dresses and thelike. The case also provides walls defining the com-: partments, thosepertinent to the present invention being the top wall I! andthebottom-wall I8 1 V In this position, .suits, dresses and the like may.be placed in or removed fromithe compartment, a convenientoperation inpacking-being to hang all of the suits, dresses or the like onthe-hangers I2 with the frame I4 in downwardly pivoted position and thecord le unfastened. The cord I3 may then befastenedacross the lower endof the compartment W,I andany excess portions of the clothing foldedback over the .bar H at the end of the frame l l'. "The frame 14 maythen bepushed back into the compartment, and the cover C fastened over.the compartment.

The cover C may be made primarily. of a cloth or fabric 20, of anysuitable material, such assilk, rayon, plastic film or thelike, whichwill present an attractive appearance, and in one or more layers, asdesired. The coverC. is, in general, longer than necessary to cover thecompartment, fabric 2!; being gathered andprovidedwith a number ofelastic strips 2 I, such as. three, inserted in or sewed to the.lining.'-When three. elastic strips 2! are used; one mayextend centrallyand the other two along the outer edges of thecover,

as in Fig. 4, may be enclosed within fabric, such as within a strip 22,which may be stitched to the fabric 25' of the cover and also toelasticstrip 2 l,' as shown.

In accordance with the present. invention, the cover C may be'providedat its upper and lower edges with a novel edge assembly, comprising adoubled stiffener strip 24 or 24 of material pref: erablystiffer'thanthe fabric'zflysuch as cardboard, and a bar 25'formed of.metal, such as steel, aluminum; or other material stronger than fabricor strip 24; Bar'25'may be a solid rod, having a circular'cross section,as' shown, or may be a tube or bar of any other .cross sectional shape,such as elliptical; square, rectangular, or the like,

any of which may also be hollow; At'the lower or releasably' attachededge of cover C, and as shown also in Fig. 5, the doubled cardboardstrip z l'encloses bar and is in turn enclosed by a covering strip 26,preferably. formed of the same material as fabric'2fi and attached tothe cardboard strip 24'and fabricZfl by rows of stitching 21 and 28,respectively. Thecardboardstrip. 24 isp'referably longer'than the rod25,.sothat the ends'of strip 24'and fabricstrip. 26 will extend pastthe endof rod 25 and the latterwillnotbe visible, as evident from Fig. 1.,.unlessviewed directly from the side or edge of. the. cover C.

d in Figs. 5 and 6, the ends of covering strip 26 are lapped to theinside of cardboard strip 24, and the fabric 20 is inserted within thecardboard strip 24. Stitching 2'! may be disposed adjacent the edges ofthe cardboard strip 24, while stitching 28 may be disposed adjacent theedge of fabric iznfin a position spaced from the bend of the .-cardboardstrip 24, so that, a space-29 is formed which, as in Fig. 5, is adaptedto receive the bar 25. As will be evident from Fig. 5, the cardboardstrip 24 has legs of equal width extending along the f-abric20-andattached thereto by stitching 21- and-28. --While these legs arepreferably of .-.;equal length-, it :will be understood that the legsamay be of unequal width. The cardboard strip 24 ispreferablysufficiently flexible so as to be capable readily of havingthe opposed sides forming the'ba'rreceiving space moved together andqspread, apart.

Thus, the cardboard, cardboard covering strip 26, and fabric 28 may beassembled andstitched together while in .flat position, as

Fig: 6, prior to the insertion of bar. 25 into the .spacei29,.orstitched after insertion of the bar l 25, .as inlFig'. 5; This is ofparticular advantage,

.sinoe all. of the stitchingoperations may be performed with the coverfiat, whether or not the metal bars or rods 25 are in place.

In further accordance with'this invention, to provide a detachableconnection at the desired 'edge'of the cover C, an eyelet'3il,'as inFig.'7,

may be passed through'and clinched to the edge assembly, closelyadjacent each side thereof.'.fAs

will be evident, each eyeletj3ll preferablypasses through both sidesofrcardboard-Zfi, as well" as through fabric cover strip'zfi'andfabric-Zllybetween stitching 2'5- and'23. "Each eyelet 30' may bedisposed-in line with or passthroughoneof the'side elastic stripsZ'L'and is adapted to engage a hook 19, which may be formed "as'an earor 'In'further accordance with'this invention, a

similar edge assembly is provided at the upper --or opposite edge-ofthe'cover C, asshown in Fig; 8, the-position of the bar 25 b'eingreversed "withrespect to the end of the-fabric Zi], which is attached,as by stitching 34, to the-rearof the edge assembly, instead of insertedbetween theedges of strip -24. J The strip 24 is-made of-suitablematerial,- such as cardboard, as before, and may be similar to the strip24 of Figs.

5 =and 6, or have afront-leg32-widenthan=the rear--leg-33, as'shown'in-Fig'. 8. One'edge-of covering strip 25 thereforemay' be attached-pas-by--an' odor-less synthetic adhesive, --to' the inside or rear of thefront-leg' 32; and-thestripflfi "then passed around' the strip-' -24--tobe-lapped over the rear leg-" 33; and attached thereto by stitching"34,, "which preferably extends? through both layers of cardboard. Asecond. row I of stitching .28. extendsthrough both ,layersof thecardboard and covering strip to defineflthe space in whichjthe barf 25.is.inserted. .Theedgeassembly ofzFig. 8 may., be. attached tor the top.wall 11- of. the. compartment. by screws. 35, each off which extends.through theliner. I Land: into v.thewall .l I. .One of .the screws v3.5; may bedisposed. beneath each of the. side elastic. strips :2 l,whilea .third screw may also be. disposedbeneath the centralelasticstrip, or two screws may be disposed to either side thereof, ifnecessary to accommodate a bracket 36, of Fig. 1, on which the hangersl2 are supported. As will be evident, staples, pins, bolts, or otherforms of attaching means may be substituted for screws 35.

As will be evident from the foregoing, the luggage compartment cover ofthis invention fulfills to a marked degree the requirements and objectshereinbefore set forth. One edge of the cover is easily attached to awall of the compartment, such as merely by a series of screws. Also, theopposite edge of the cover is releasably attached to the opposite wallof the compartment, as through the eyelets 30 and hooks IS. The cover isparticularly adapted to withstand wear and abuse, does not tend to getout of shape, and cannot readily be dislodged or torn away from thecompartment, since each bar 25 is sufficiently strong to withstand thepull of the elastic strips, and also other stresses which may be placedon the cover. Each edge of the 'cover is also relatively inflexible, dueto the strength imparted thereto by the bar or rod 25. The stiffener orcardboard strips 24 and 24', particularly when doubled over, providesufficient strength to transfer any stresses imposed on the fabric tothe rods 25, and vice versa. The cover is neat and attractive inappearance, since at the lower edge, i. e. shown in Figs. 5 and 6, allraw fabric edges are enclosed within the stiffener strip 24, while atthe opposite or upper edge, as shown in Fig. 8, there are no exposededges, since the edge of the fabric 20 is behind the edge assembly, andthe edges of the covering strip 26 are behind or between the strip 24.Furthermore, the bars 25 are hidden, since each is enclosed by astiffener strip 24 or 24'. The cover is relatively economicallymanufactured, since all stitching operations may be carried out with theparts in flat position, and the bars 25 are readily inserted eitherbefore or after stitching has been completed. The fabric 20 isconveniently gathered and the elastic strips 2| attached thereto, priorto attachment of the edge assemblies, although any desired procedure maybe followed in manufacturing.

As will also be evident, the cover may be made in a variety of differentsizes and shapes, to fit any desired compartment; the size and shape ofthe stiffener or cardboard strips, as well as other parts, may bevaried; and materials other than those indicated may be used in makingsuch strips, as well as any of the other parts. Thus, material otherthan steel or aluminum, such as brass, bronze, magnesium or alloysthereof, or others, may be used for the bars 25; the fabric 20 may beany suitable textile or other fabric, or may be a sheet of material,such as plastic, and. may or may not be the same material as the lining,as desired, while the compartment also may be unlined; the stiffenerstrips 24 may be formed of cardboard, as indicated, or of othermaterial, such as plastic, fabric or paper plastieized or otherwisetreated to produce the desired relative stiffness; and the coveringstrips 26 and 26' may be made of the same or different material than thecover fabric 20. While the length of bars 25 is preferably slightly lessthan the width of the cover 0, the length of the bars may be varied, andmore than one bar may be inserted in the space 29.

While the cover of this invention has been shown as applied to a ladieswardrobe case, it

6 will be'evide'nt that it may be applied to other types of luggage,such as different types of traveling cases, overnight cases, otherwardrobe cases, suit cases, and even to trunks, particularly smalltrunks, and other types of luggage. The

' cover of this invention may also be used in nontraveling equipment,such as equipment which includes storage compartments for clothing andother articles, and also may be applied generally to any compartment forwhich a cover is to be provided.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been described indetail, and certain changes therein described or indicated, it willfurther be evident that other embodiments may exist, and that variousother changes may be made, all without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cover for a luggage compartment orthe like, said cover beingformed principally of fabric or the like, a relatively rigid barextending along one edge of said fabric; a folded strip of materialstiffer than said fabric but sufficiently flexible so as to be capablereadily of having the opposed sides thereof moved together and spreadapart, said folded strip enclosing said bar and having legs of unequalwidth extending along said fabric; and means attaching said fabric tosaid folded strip and the edges of said folded strip together, at leasta portion of said attaching means extending along said folded strip inspaced relation to the folded edge thereof. and defining a space forreceiving said bar.

2. In a cover for a luggage compartment or the like, the improvementdefined in claim 1, including a covering strip for said folded strip,and enclosing the same, the edges of said covering strip extendingaround the edges of said folded strip, and wherein said fabric isattached to said covering strip and folded strip on the outside of thenarrower leg of said folded strip.

3. In a cover for a luggage case or the like having walls defining acompartment, said cover being formed principally of fabric or the likewhich is gathered and has an elastic strip attached thereto at leastadjacent each side edge, the improvement which comprises a relativelyrigid bar extending along one edge of said fabric; a folded strip ofmaterial stiffer than said fabric and enclosing said bar, said foldedstrip having legs of equal width extending away from said bar; acovering strip of fabric enclosing said folded strip and having edgesextending between the legs of said folded strip, stitching attachingsaid fabric to said folded strip and said covering strip, a portion ofsaid stitching extending along said folded strip in spaced relation tothe folded edge thereof and defining a space for receiving said bar, andanother portion of said stitching being disposed adjacent the edges ofsaid legs; an eyelet extending through said folded strip, covering stripand fabric and clinched thereon, adjacent each said side elastic strip;a hook for each eyelet mounted on a wall of said compartment to providea releasable attachment for said cover; and means for attaching theopposite edge of said cover to the corresponding wall of saidcompartment.

4. In a cover for a luggage case or the like having walls defining acompartment, said cover being formed principally of fabric or the like,the improvement which comprises a relatively rigid bar extending alongone edge of said fabric;

extending along said folded strip.;in. spaced re- :1: .lation tothe.foldedrend; thereof toxdefine ,apspace forreceiving 881101113311 and.anothergportiorr' of .1 said stitching. extending along. said ioldedastrip t, adjacent :the edge of .said narrower leg at least .one of said;portionsalso.:attaching the: edge; of said fabric. to :the outsidexof:said narrower leg;

a series of screws extendingsthroughe'saidfolded strip and coveringstripuandainto azzwall' of said compartment; to attachssaid coverthereto. with I the edge of. said fabric. behind. said-:Joanand .strips;and means forsreleasably:attaching;the opposite. edge of said fabric toQLLCOIIBSDOIIdiIIg 1-.Wall'j of said ecompartment.

. 5.1 In acover, for 8,. 1uggage:-.-case;;orsthealike having walls:defining a compartment-,1saidw'cover being.;formed principally offabric': 01-2 .:the:like which is gathered-.andhasaan elasticsstripattached. thereto at .rleastadjacenteach sideiedge,

the improvement. which comprisesv a" relatively rigid bar extendingalong; one edge of. said-fabric; a folded strip of (material stifferthan said :fabric and enclosingtsaidzbar, .said'. folded strip; ihavinglegs of equal width ::extending; :awayxfrom .said

bar; a covering strip of fabric enclosingzsaid 1 folded-.stripr-.ancl;having edges; extending. between 1 the legs of saidfolded strip;:stitching attaching said fabric to .saidifoldedxstrip;and. saidcovering 1 strip, a portion of saidstitching extendingialongsaidwfoldedstrip inrspaced relation to: the folded edge thereofanddefining. aspace forv receiving said bar, and another:portiongoflsaidstitching being disposed adjacent thesedgesz Of)saidlegs;

.an eyelet extending ;.through said: folded-strip, covering strip. and:fabric and :clinched thereon,

adjacent each said. side :elastic'strip; .ahoolcafor eachv eyelet-;mounted E on at-wallof; said .comp'artment to, provide a releasable-;-attachment:for

said cover; a second relatively.;rigidabarriextending. .along 1. an-:.opposite;edge 2' ofssaid sfabric ,i a second folded strip; .of.materiahstifier .than; said fabric and genclosingisaid. barsandehaving.legs

of unequal widthextending'aWay from said bar; acovering strip; of fabricienclosing .said second folded .strip,.:1one;.edge'of..said::coveringstrip 8' -a::beingsadhesively:iattachedu to. thez'innertedge of :;.:.said':cvvider1--'1eg;: andcthe"; opposites edges ofssaid 1.oacoveringzstripgextendingj around; theszedge of. said .narrowenlegxzands between: said "-legs;,:stitching attachinga'said; fabric;tcrafsaid; strips; aiportion 1-5 oiwsaid gstitching s extendingzcalongisaid EEZSBCOIld -ifoldeda strip inspaced relation to the foldedzendn:there of;.r:to pdefine; arspacem fori receivingia-said:secondzban;:andnanother portion. of: saidstitch- 10;: ting-extendingalong; said second: foldedi strip; ad-

a .uja'centu thenziedg-e xgof :saidanarrower. leg; atsdeast zoneeofs.saidiportionsi:alsotuattaching the edge. of ,r said-1 fabric tovthetoutsideiof said:.narrower.ileg; I and a". series.ofxscrewscextending1:througtr;said :folded strip; andrcoverings'triptand; :into aawall of, saidcompartmeninto .aattach said :cover; theretowith? thesedgeuof-tasaid':fabricsbehind.saidbar and strips.

6: In a corerzifor ailuggage compartment: or the like; saidrcover-beingxformed; principally; of .;fabric, the-.improvementzwhichcomprises 'axrigid .-,.metal erod extending, along-one. edge of-saidcover xii-fabric; afolded strip. of;cardboard-enclosing.:said rod and.havingszlegsi extending 'along said fabric; .a covering.) strip: of; fabric extendingzaround said r. cardboard :strip: on;the'zioutsidexthereof ;;1. and ii .stitchingextending substantiallyparallelto ..said i: rod along .arlinaspacedafrom' the foldededge ofsaid. cardboard Irstripfindspassingiufthrough said coyerv fabric, 1zsaid iicardboard .iand said icovering fabricstripg.saidstitchingdefining :a .rod receiv- 7 ing space.

'1 7: In a. cover zfcm a. luggagescompartment. or ::..the.i1il :e;.asidefinedin claim 6, wherein saiddegs of-zsaiducardboardzstrip areofzequal; length.

.8.';In ancoverz'ior a luggage-compartment or the :like,asidefinediinxclaim 6;: wherein said glegs tot said cardboardirstripxareof unequal length.

.:.;'JAN.EES DONALD. .LM'ARVIN' S'IEIMSON.

-;,. RAYMOND3-EBIRZA.

References fiited tin rthe file of this: patent *UNITED STATES'-1='A"I-EN'IS 5 Number j .Name Date.

1,233,966 "Blessing '.Jvu1y.l7, 1917 1,490,001 Gaynor. Apr. 8, 19241,989,778 Wintz L' Feb; 5," 1935 2,115,334 'L.Kaufmann Apr. 26,193812,207,026 ..'..Rit.ter. .July 9, 1940 f FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate "17,232 .Great'Britain of 1893

